Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-04-01
THREE seen ES IN ii LIFE


Not much to see only blood stains
on the floor Of q gambling saloon AZ
Foudriere, all traces 81 which the a.
tendants were hastily removing; not
much to hear only the footsteps 81
those who were carrying ont the
dead, and the idle comments of
players and loungers. s..5.
'Not a case Of suicide, = said one 81
the habitues to an English officer
standing near the doors Oh, moi.
He burst q blood vessel in his intense
excitement, and died almost instantly.
An Englishman? Well, yes, / think so
husband of the pretty girl we saw
yesterday at the Establishment. Very
i'll she looked; and quite a young child
was at her side" <,' *. " j.
Andthen arose the cry Of "Faites
10 jeu, messieurs!"--an the death
scene was forgotten and the gamblers
resumed their absorbing play.
Asmall apartment in quiet street,
and a girl leaning from an open case.
ment gazing at the peaceful sky. Her
lace was very pale, with deep shadows
under the eyes, telling OF many a
weary vigil like that which. she. was
then keeping $685.
Would ne retrieve all, as he had as
sured her? Would the terrible losses
OF the past weeks be repeated in a few
short hours? So he has said, and so
believed, and in hearing him she be-
ieved also.
And now would the long hours never
pass-would he never come? Shelook.
ed around at the neat but poor DOM,
Rt the sleeping child and at the little
table with the white roll and flask of
cheap wine-all their scanty means
would allow her to provide--and then,
turning again to the window, she re-
Bumed her lonely watch, shivering
slightly as the breeze ruffled her soft
brown curls and the night birds cry
fell on the stiffness OF the deserted
streets.
Not many months before Harry
Vaughan, with his wife and child, had
arrived at Foudriere. He was an art
list, and hoped by a winter among
tairer scenes and in mider air to re.
cruit his failing health and find fresh
subjects for his pencil.
It was on one OF his sketching excur-
pions that he formed the acquaintance
of a young Frenchman, who tempted
him into gaming saloon with no 9TH
or thought than that OF passing away
an idle hour. But the consequence OF
that one visit had been fatal. Sever.
al men had been winning heavily, and
the excitement of play entered like
madness into the brain OF the young
Englishman. and he staked again and
again small sums, certainly, but still
enough to feed the flame OF gambling
within him, for he won every time.
AS the young wife leaned from the
easement she dwelt with feverish re-
sentiment upon the events of the past
day how the young Frenchman who
had first awakened in Harry the love of
play had been shocked at the misery
he had so unwittipgly caused, and had
pressed on him the loan OF 100 francs.
exacting the promise that if he tried
his luck once again and failed he
would at once and forever give up the
gaming table and return to his work.
Flushed with hope, and with strong
determination to keep his word, Har-
ry bade Margaret adieu with more
than usual tenderness, and went out,
as he said, "to conquer fate"
Some of his spirit entered into the
poor girls heart, and filled it for a
brief moment with hope. Then, in an
agony OF fear and love, she called him
back, and implored him with tears
and sobs, whether he lost or won,
never to enter a gambling house
again.
II will promise you, DEAR" he said
softly, putting her gently from him,
and so went out to meet his doom.
X
He would never win or lose again,
and nevermore would Margaret keep
her lonely watch for his dear sake.
Strangers hands had laid him to rest
in the quiet graveyard; aud now with
fearless agony, Margaret knelt alone
beside her sleeping child.
fTNhox, boI >, h1,,.s ),rk. o,~J
food her child must die.
Suddenly q burning flush mounted
to her brow, and starting to her feet,
she drew the wedding ring from her
wasted finger, kissing it passionately,
hurried from the room, as if fearful
that her resolution might give way.
A little later, with q few francs clasp
ed i'll her burning hand, she FASTENED,
not to the poor roonl she called home,
but to the gaming saloon where her
husband had died not many days be-
fore. y e. %
us it not true" she kept repeating
to herself, "that a new player always
wins? Then l shall win!''-and, mutt
tering the same words again and
again. she passed unchallenged through
the wide open doors, up the splendid
staircase, and into q large saloon
where men and women, in silent, terri
BILE earnest, were gambling at the ia
bles. T. r.
Margaret staked two or three francs
with feverish haste. - @
The English oficer--C Capt. Mostyn-@
who had witnessed her husbands
death. now stood intently regarding
her. He moved restlessly, as If i'm